SONG OF THE WEEK: 11-23-2025

SONG:  "Gone"

ARTIST:  The Bouncing Souls

ALBUM:  "How I Spent My Summer Vacation"

YEAR:  2001 

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  New Brunswick, New Jersey

YEARS ACTIVE:  1989 - Present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

The Bouncing Souls song "Gone" is about overcoming personal struggles and self-doubt, where a "cloudy night" and "darkness" symbolize feelings of being lost and trapped in negativity. The song conveys a journey of finding inner strength and recognizing the falsehoods one tells themselves, ultimately leading to liberation and clarity as the darkness fades away.

THE BOUNCING SOULS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1994 - The Good, The Bad, And The Argyle (Chunksaah Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

1996 - Maniacal Laughter (Chunksaah Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

1997 - The Bouncing Souls (Epitaph Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

1999 - Hopeless Romantic (Epitaph Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2000 - The Bad, The Worse, And The Out Of Print (Chunksaah Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2001 - How I Spent My Summer Vacation (Epitaph Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2003 - Anchors Aweigh (Epitaph Records)

* Peaked at #168 on the Billboard 200

2005 - Live (Chunksaah Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2006 - The Gold Record (Epitaph Records)

* Peaked at #141 on the Billboard 200

2010 - Ghosts On The Boardwalk (Chunksaah Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2011 - Live At Generation Records) (Generation Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2012 - Comet (Rise Records)

* Peaked at #110 on the Billboard 200

2016 - Simplicity (Rise Records)

* Peaked at #157 on the Billboard 200

2020 - Volume 2 (Pure Noise Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2023 - Ten Stories High (Pure Noise Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON THE BOUNCING SOULS:

The Bouncing Souls are a New Jersey band that got it's start when all the members were in high school back in 1989. In 1994, the band released "The Good, The Bad, And The Argyle" which was really just a compilation of their previously released EP's and such. I guess their debut full length album would be considered 1996's "Maniacal Laughter". In 1997, The Bouncing Souls signed a deal with legendary punk rock label Epitaph Records and released their self-titled album. 1999's "Hopeless Romantic" was when the band really started honing in on their sound. I'd say that by the time of their next release, 2001's "How I Spent My Summer Vacation", The Bouncing Souls were a well oiled machine at this point. Their 2003 release, "Anchors Aweigh" is my personal favorite album by the band. "Kids And Heroes" is just a killer song. One of my favorite songs of all time for sure! 2006 saw the band release "The Gold Record" which would end their relationship with Epitaph. This album features an awesome cover of Avoid One Thing's "Lean On Sheena", another incredible song! In 2010, "Ghosts On The Boardwalk" was released which is a compilation of tracks that the band released to celebrate their 20th anniversary. Now signed with Rise Records, the band released "Comet" in 2012, their highest charting album, peaking at #110 on the Billboard 200 charts. They completed their deal with Rise with the release of 2016's "Simplicity". Inking a deal with Pure Noise Records, The Bouncing Souls released "Volume 2", which is an album featuring stripped down and re-worked versions of some of their songs. The band's most recent album was released in 2023, titled "Ten Stories High". In 2025, the band released the single "Power" and confirmed that more new music will see the light of day in 2026. The Bouncing Souls are a hugely influential melodic type punk band. Known for bringing back "pogo punk" by some, their songs bring energy and enthusiasm to crowds that attend their live shows. The Bouncing Souls are a very hardworking band. They consistently release music and are constantly touring. I was a little late to The Bouncing Souls party. I always knew of them in the 90's, especially from Epitaph "Punk O Rama" compilations, but when I heard "Kids And Heroes", I went full throttle on The Bouncing Souls, quickly getting their back catalogue, and devouring any new stuff they put out from that point on. As I said before, The Bouncing Souls are big time influential amongst punk rock circles. Just an incredible band that just keeps getting better with age!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Face To Face

The Lawrence Arms

Off With Their Heads

Lagwagon

No Use For A Name

TEN THE BOUNCING SOULS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Kids And Heroes

2. True Believers

3. Lean On Sheena (Avoid One Thing cover)

4. Ghosts On The Boardwalk

5. Coin Toss Girl

6. East Side Mags

7. Satellite

8. Fight To Live

9. Ten Stories High

10. Here We Go

SONG OF THE WEEK: 11-16-2025

SONG:  "Baby Britain" (Elliott Smith cover)

ARTIST:  Bayside

ALBUM:  "Acoustic"

YEAR:  2006

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  New York City, New York

YEARS ACTIVE:  2000 - Present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

The Bayside song "Baby Britain" is a cover of a track originally written and performed by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. Therefore, the meaning of Bayside's version is inherently tied to the original song's lyrical content and interpretations. The song generally depicts a character, referred to as "Baby Britain," who is struggling with alcoholism, isolation, and low self-esteem. 

BAYSIDE DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2004 - Sirens And Condolences (Victory Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2005 - Bayside (Victory Records)

* Peaked at #153 on the Billboard 200

2007 - The Walking Wounded (Victory Records)

* Peaked at #75 on the Billboard 200

2008 - Shudder (Victory Records)

* Peaked at #54 on the Billboard 200

2008 - Live @ The Bayside Social Club (Victory Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2011 - Killing Time (Wind-Up Records)

* Peaked at #35 on the Billboard 200

2014 - Cult (Hopeless Records)

* Peaked at #24 on the Billboard 200

2016 - Vacancy (Hopeless Records)

* Peaked at #69 on the Billboard 200

2019 - Interrobang (Hopeless Records)

* Peaked at #109 on the Billboard 200

2024 - There Are Worse Things Than Being Alive (Hopeless Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON BAYSIDE:

Bayside is a New York City band that got it's start back in 2000. After putting out some demos and seeking out labels, the band would eventually sign a deal with Victory Records. Their debut full length album would be 2004's "Sirens And Condolences". This album was followed up with 2005's "Bayside". This album featured the single "Devotion And Desire" which really made the band pop. Unfortunately, on Octoboer 31st of that year, the band's drummer, John "Beatz" Holohan, died when the band's tour van got into a major accident while the band was on tour. 2007's "The Walking Wounded" continued success for Bayside. By now they were either headlining or co-headlining with the likes of Senses Fail and Taking Back Sunday. In 2008, the band dropped "Shudder" as well as their first live album, "Live @ The Bayside Social Club". In 2011, Bayside signed a deal with Wind-Up Records for the release of the album "Killing Time". "Already Gone" is a killer track from that album. One of my favorites by the band for sure. In 2014, Bayside signed a deal with Hopeless Records. They are still with Hopeless to this day. The first album they dropped with that label would be 2014's "Cult", the band's highest charting album to date, peaking at #24. 2016 saw the band drop "Vacancy", while "Interroband" was released in 2019. The band's most recent release was 2024's "There Are Worse Things Than Being Alive". Bayside is a punk/pop punk/melodic punk type of band. I always felt they had a unique style from other bands of their era and genre. I think that's because the band's vocalist, Anthony Raneri, just has a distinct vocal delivery. It makes Bayside seperate from the pack in my mind. I got into Bayside very early. The first song I heard by them was "Masterpiece" from their debut album. It was right in that 2000 to 2010 decade where I was really getting into bands like Bayside and Taking Back Sunday and Brand New. Bayside is one of the leaders of that genre of music for sure. Great songs, distinct style. Really awesome band for sure.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Armor For Sleep

Senses Fail

Taking Back Sunday

Alkaline Trio

The Early November

TEN BAYSIDE SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Devotion And Desire

2. Already Gone

3. Winter

4. Duality

5. Pretty Vacant

6. Masterpiece

7. Pigsty

8. No One Understands

9. Prayers

10. Castaway 

SONG OF THE WEEK: 11-9-2025

SONG:  "Holy Shit"

ARTIST:  Against Me!

ALBUM:  "Searching For A Former Clarity"

YEAR:  2005

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Naples, Florida

YEARS ACTIVE:  1997 - 2020

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

The Against Me! song "Holy Shit!" is widely considered a detailed critique of a stagnating rock scene and, more generally, the music industry at large.

AGAINST ME! DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2002 - Reinventing Axl Rose (No Idea Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2003 - As The Eternal Cowboy (Fat Wreck Chords)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2005 - Searching For A Former Clarity (Fat Wreck Chords)

* Peaked at #114 on the Billboard 200

2006 - Americans Abroad! Against Me! Live In London! (Fat Wreck Chords)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2007 - New Wave (Sire Records)

* Peaked at #57 on the Billboard 200

2010 - White Crosses (Sire Records)

* Peaked at # 34 on the Billboard 200

2014 - Transgender Dysphoria Blues (Total Treble Music)

* Peaked at #23 on the Billboard 200

2015 - 23 Live Sex Acts (Total Treble Music)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2016 - Shape Shift With Me (Total Treble Music)

* Peaked at #80 on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON AGAINST ME!:

Against Me! formed as a band back in 1997, hailing from Naples, Florida. Well, actually it started as just a solo acoustic project for lead singer Tom Gabel. It seemed that every EP they would release after their first one, more band members would join. By the time of the release of their debut full length in 2002, "Reinventing Axl Rose", Against Me! was a full band. In 2003, Against Me! signed with infamous punk rock label Fat Wreck Chords. There, they released 2003's "As The Eternal Cowboy" and 2005's "Searching For A Former Clarity". The latter being the first Against Me! album to chart on the Billboard 200, peaking at #114. In 2007, Against Me! signed a major label deal with Sire Records and released two albums with them, 2007's "New Wave" and 2010's "White Crosses". In 2012, Tom Gabel announced that he was transitioning into a female as he had a lifelong struggle with gender dysphoria. He took the name Laura Jane Grace from that point on. The band also created their own label at this time, Total Trebel Music, which all of their future albums were released on beginning with 2014's "Transgender Dysphoria Blues", which would be the band's highest charting album, peaking at #23. In 2016, Against Me! dropped "Shape Shift With Me". This was the last release by Against Me!. The band toured up until 2020 but the Covid pandemic really put a halt to the band's activities. I guess they were moving forward with a new album, but Covid just halted everything and ultimately, Against Me! has been on an indefinite hiatus. Laura Jane Grace has said that the band has not broken up and she still wants to continue on with the band but just doesn't see it happening anytime soon due to the band members working on other projects at the time. Grace has also been hard at work on her solo career as well. Against Me! is a punk rock band. I call bands like theirs "gruff punk". Not sure if that's even a real genre or whatever but they remind me of bands like Hot Water Music or Off With THeir Heads, bands that have "gruffy" vocals for lack of a better term. Not even sure what gruffy means! You know what I mean!! I got into Against Me! in 2005. I saw the "Don't Lose Touch" video and I was instantly hooked. I always saw them as a band that stood out from the pack. I would put them in a leader category, definitely not a follower. I'm hoping they get their act together and reunite to make new music soon. I got my fingers crossed!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Laura Jane Grace

The Menzingers

Alkaline Trio

The Lawrence Arms

Off With Their Heads

TEN AGAINST ME! SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. I Was A Teenage Anarchist

2. Don't Lose Touch

3. Black Me Out

4. Baby, I'm An Anarchist

5. Wagon Wheel (Old Crow Medicine Show cover)

6. Sink, Florida, Sink

7. Thrash Unreal

8. Crash

9. Because Of The Shame

10. Lost And Searching In America